New Toronto streetcars get some overnight test drives

TTC's sneak peeks of the first of a new fleet of Bombardier models set for 2014

While the city of Toronto has slept for the past two nights, a new longer and lower-floored streetcar has slithered through the streets to the delight of transit enthusiasts, even if they haven’t learned about the trips until after dawn.

The new Bombardier model had its first surprise run around 4:30 a.m. on Thursday, as explained through the Twitter account of Toronto Transit Commission corporate communications director Brad Ross — who declared the short round trip between the Hillcrest yard and Bathurst subway station a success after the vehicle triumphantly dipped beneath a bridge and conducted a wide turn along the way.

Similar runs will continue in the months leading up to the public debut of the new streetcars. The plan is to ensure that no aspect of their operation goes untested before going into full-time operation in 2014 — starting on the Spadina route.

A second run was conducted between Bathurst and Bloor and Exhibition Place in the wee small hours of Friday. And this time, the account dedicated to the TTC streetcar provided the updates.